Woman killed by Metro-North train in Norwalk

Published 11:27 pm, Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A woman watches the aftermath of the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel depot., in central Norwalk. less

A woman watches the aftermath of the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine ... more

Emergency officials process the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel depot., in central Norwalk. less

Emergency officials process the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. ... more

The aftermath of the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel depot., in central Norwalk. less

The aftermath of the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel ... more

An official inspects the tracks during the aftermath of a fatal-incident where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel depot., in central Norwalk. less

An official inspects the tracks during the aftermath of a fatal-incident where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce ... more

Emergency officials at the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel depot., in central Norwalk. less

Emergency officials at the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. ... more

The aftermath of the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel depot., in central Norwalk. less

The aftermath of the scene where a Metro-North train appeared to have hit and killed a person Wednesday morning, Feb. 17th, 2010, as the train crossed Commerce Street just north of the Devine Bros. Inc. fuel ... more

When officers arrived, it could not immediately be determined if a man or woman had been killed, Velez said.

Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker said a train that left the Danbury station at 6:19 a.m. struck the woman, who was wearing multiple layers of clothing and carrying no identification. Her identity has not yet been determined, Brucker said.

Brucker said the engineer earlier saw the woman walking on the road that crosses the tracks near the Norwalk river. He said she then stepped out from behind a pole and laid down on the tracks in front of the oncoming train. The engineer did not have enough time to stop the train before it struck her, Brucker said.

The Danbury line was taken out of service and commuters were bused between stations. Service on the line was restored at about 12:30 p.m.

Brucker said a medical examiner was at the scene and MTA police will formally decide whether the death is a suicide, homicide or accidental.

Staff Writer John Nickerson can be reached at 203-964-2320 or john.nickerson@scni.com.

The southbound train was halted, partially inside the Wall Street tunnel, and passengers were taken off the train and shuttled by bus to the South Norwalk train station, Brucker said.